CEC explains his Zia remarks to AL

Obaidul Quader. File PhotoThe chief election commissioner, KM Nurul Huda, has explained to Awami League why he called former president Ziaur Rahman the founder of multiparty democracy in the country.CEC made the explanation during a dialogue between the election commission and the ruling Bangladesh Awami League (AL) at the commission secretariat at Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader told newsmen after the talks.He, however, said the AL would not disclose the explanation.Read more: Zia restored multi-party democracy: CEC HudaDuring EC’s talks with AL’s primary rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) earlier on 16 October, CEC KM Nurul Huda who was appointed during this regime of AL had said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman restored multiparty democracy in the country.The CEC’s statement apparently irked AL leaders and its allies.Talking to newsmen on Monday, AL general secretary Quader had said the CEC’s remark that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman restored multiparty democracy in the country might be a tactic to bring the party to elections.He also had said the party would seek explanation from the CEC during its today’s talks.”We got the explanation, but won’t disclose it. If necessary, the election commission will give the explanation,” said Obaidul Quader on Wednesday after talks with EC.Read more: ‘AL to know details of CEC’s Zia remark during its meet with EC’A 21-member Awami League delegation, led by Quader, joined the electoral talks held with chief election commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.“Today’s remarks of the chief election commissioner, other commissioners and the secretary were positive. The dialogue with the election commission is fruitful,” he added.Awami League placed an 11-point proposal, including introduction of the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs), for holding the next general election in a credible manner.In the dialogue that lasted for nearly two hours and 15 minutes, the ruling party also proposed submission of the list of polling agents to presiding officers and assistant presiding officers three days before the polling day.Dwelling on deployment of military troops during the elections, the AL said Sections 129-131 of the Code of Criminal Procedure aka CrPC and the section titled ‘In Aid To Civil Power’ of the rules on army have described well when the military troops can be deployed and in which context.